H.R. No. 1086
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, North Texas residents are mourning the loss of Gregg
Hudson, president and CEO of the Dallas Zoo, who died in April 2023,
at the age of 64; and
WHEREAS, Hired to lead the zoo in 2006, Mr. Hudson oversaw
its transition from city ownership to a public/private partnership
in 2009; he worked tirelessly to ensure funding for a major
development, the 11-acre Giants of the Savanna habitat, which
opened in 2010, allowing visitors to watch the interactions of
elephants, giraffes, zebras, and ostriches; zoo attendance surged
and the annual revenue stream doubled to more than $40 million;
since 2015, the zoo has averaged over 1 million visitors a year; and
WHEREAS, Although the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted
attendance growth, Mr. Hudson skillfully navigated through that
crisis; he provided steady guidance in early 2023 when the zoo was
beset by a series of bizarre incidents involving vandalism and the
theft of animals; throughout his tenure, he emphasized increasing
conservation resources and education programming; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hudson was an inspiring mentor to many in his
industry, and for over three decades, he was a trailblazer in
wildlife conservation; he served on the board of the national
Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in
Rwanda, and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education
Center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and
WHEREAS, Before taking the helm of the Dallas Zoo, Mr. Hudson
served for over 5 years as president and CEO of the Cincinnati Zoo
and Botanical Garden, and during his 10 years as executive director
and CEO of the Fort Worth Zoo, he led its privatization in the early
1990s; he brought to the industry experience gained in the
hospitality sector, through employment by hotels and the Six Flags
theme parks; and
WHEREAS, Gregg Hudson was admired not only for his visionary
leadership, but also for his tremendous warmth and kindness, and
although he will be deeply missed, his contributions will continue
to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Gregg Hudson and
extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gregg
Hudson.
Jones of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1086 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 20, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House